HELENA — This week’s One Class at a Time recipient is Helena School District music teacher Tamara Ashley.
Ashley is working to make sure every student has a chance to play and experiment with instruments.
Members of First Interstate Bank were joined by KXLH to surprise her at Hawthorne Elementary classroom with a $250 check.
The money from the grant will be used to purchase a glockenspiel to replace one that has broken.
Ashley says it’s incredibly important that kids get a hands-on experience with music.
“They’re not just using one sense when they’re playing instruments. They have two hands usually going, using the two different sides of their brains,” said Ashley. “Plus then they’re usually singing along with their playing.”
Ashley added she’s thankful for this support given that school instruments often cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.
For more than a decade, First Interstate Bank and MTN have partnered for the One Class at a Time grant.
The mission of the grant is to foster educational opportunities for local teachers and students.
A panel of retired teachers and school officials select the grant recipients from a pool of submitted applications.
For more information about One Class at a Time, including how to apply, visit here.
